I've picked the first two pages of Mozart's Sonata in Bb Major, K. 281, last movement, Rondeau, Allegro to explore breathing and blocking techniques in the learning process. (These principles can be applied to practicing music from a variety of eras) Starting a composition is often taken for granted. Sometimes students will land on a… Continue reading Piano Practicing: Breathing into phrases and blocking out passages (Mozart Sonata, example)
Category: Skype piano lessons
Mommas and Babies in the Music World
At a Skype lesson to Alaska
The C Major Scale universe: metric and muscle memory; shaping and tapering
The C Major scale is more than meets the "I," if you're the one practicing it!
Knee-jerk technology brings the keyboard closer to an Online piano student
By reassigning a web cam to my knee, I was able to assist a student with a nagging measure.
The business of copying the piano teacher: Who has the final say or PLAY?
The latest provocative teacher exchange is taking place on Facebook at the "Art of Piano Pedagogy" which has now become a private forum. When it comes to teaching philosophies, many are intensely opinionated. From my perspective, I passionately believe in sharing my ground-up musical insights with students to justify my presence at the lesson in… Continue reading The business of copying the piano teacher: Who has the final say or PLAY?
My complete analysis of Bach’s Little Prelude in D minor, BWV 926 (Video)
This in-depth examination of Bach's composition follows a Skype lesson. Most long-distance learning students need this reinforcement to make good use of their practice time during the week. http://youtu.be/R6Arx_1NaIw LINK: https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/bachs-little-prelude-in-d-minor-bwv-926-is-by-no-means-diminutive-videos/
Online Piano Lessons by Webcam: Pros and Cons (Videos)
I'm not about to pitch web-cam driven piano instruction like a CD package promoter of Piano Playing in a Flash. Learning piano is not in the espresso lane. It takes time, patience, and practice. The question is, can a student gain as much from Online piano study vs. "live" in-person lessons. For decades I was… Continue reading Online Piano Lessons by Webcam: Pros and Cons (Videos)
Growing piano technique in baby steps: Rina, 5, advances to hands together five-finger positions (adding in 10ths)
Rina may not know the words "pentascales" and "tenths," but she has the intelligence to notice when her fingers move up and down together, playing the same notes an "octave" apart. With a sound knowledge of the music alphabet in both directions, she has good cognitive reinforcement. (She also knows "running notes" or 8ths, "long… Continue reading Growing piano technique in baby steps: Rina, 5, advances to hands together five-finger positions (adding in 10ths)
The value of sending video supplements to students between piano lessons
Since I'm in the swing of You Tubing, it's not a stretch to whip up post-lesson videos to send to students for mid-week reinforcement. In this instance, one of my new SKYPE pupils will benefit from a video that carefully explores the singing tone, as well as arm, wrist, hand choreography, since these are fundamental… Continue reading The value of sending video supplements to students between piano lessons